Drag Queen Story Hour Spurs Dueling Protests In Crown Heights

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Dueling protests are expected to clash outside the Crown Heights Public Library Thursday as a drag queen named Harmonica Sunbeam reads stories to local children inside.

A Drag Queen Story Hour at the Crown Heights Public Library will draw protesters from both sides to the corner of New York Avenue and Maple Street Thursday morning, according to officials and flyers found in the neighborhood.

An anonymous organizer with the gmail address "StopDQST" papered Maple Street this week with flyers asking New Yorkers to stand against the event, during which a man dressed as a woman reads stories to children.

"This is not appropriate for small children," the flyer reads. "We must stand against this ... being silent is consenting."

Patch was not immediately able to reach the organizer for content via email, but the same address was used by a Brooklyn father named Tag to organize a Drag Queen Story Hour protest in Gerritsen Beach earlier this month, according to a Brooklyn Daily Eagle report.

Jonathan Hamilt, a co-founder at the nonprofit Drag Queen Story Hour, confirmed the rally was organized by the Gerritsen Beach protesters.

"Their whole argument was that they didn't want this in their library," Hamilt told Patch via email. "But since they are traveling to Crown Heights to protest outside of their neighborhood, it's obvious they have another agenda."

Hamilt expects a large number of New Yorkers to rally in support of the readings and the nonprofit, which has been organizing drag queen events in cities across the U.S. for the past four years.

He linked the story hours' booming success to the rare opportunity it offers children to learn about gender diversity in themselves and other people.

"Many of the parents who bring their families to Drag Queen Story Hour do so because they would like their children to learn to love and accept themselves, and other people, as they are," said Hamilt.

"LGBTQ children need role models, and all children should learn to embrace gender diversity and learn empathy."

But the widespread success of Drag Queen Story Hours has recently spurred outrage across the nation from protesters who say tax dollars should not fund drag queen events for children.

The Crown Heights protest flyer claimed in bold red letters that Drag Queen Story Hour taught "boys can be girls and girls can be boys" and constituted "attacking the innocence of children."

The notices have drawn outrage from several Crown Heights locals, one of whom wrote on a private neighborhood Facebook group that he tore down several "hateful fliers" from trees on Maple Street.

And a Brooklyn Public Library spokesperson said the libraries remained proud of its Drag Queen Story Hour program.

"The program consistently draws large enthusiastic and supportive crowds throughout the borough, the spokesperson said. "Children love the stories and songs."

Both protests are slated for 9:30 a.m. and the story hour begins at 10 a.m.